Universal tube fitting



Oct. 26 1943. J. E. CLICKNERI 2,332,893 v UNIVERSAL TUBE FITTING Filed May 7-. 1942 I IN V EN TOR. J4 MES .5 Q /C'K/VER ATTORNEY Patented a. 26,- 1943 UNIVERSAL TUBE FITTING I James E. Clickner, Dearborn, Mich, assignor to The Flex-O-Tube Delaware Company, a corporation of Application May], 1942, Serial No. 442,038

1 Claim. (Cl. 285-4) -'I'his invention relates to universal tubing flttings of the type which admits of universal movement between the flared tubing and the fitting,

and to the method of manufacturing and assembling the same.

When semi-rigid or rigid tubing is employed to make connections between elements and units of a power plant or the like which is subject to vibrational movement and when semi-rigid or rigid tubing is subject touniversalmovement with respect to the structureto which'it is connected, a fitting which will admit of universal movement between the fitting and the rigid or semi-rigid tubing which is fluid tight and which will withstand vibration is required. A fitting of the type which meets the hereinbefore stated requirements and ovr which the instant invention is resilient washer employed is protected againstbeing fouled by foreign matter and shielded against atmospheric deterioration.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved universal tubing fitting in which the. tubing connected to the fitting may be flexed with greater freedom over a greater range of movement with respect to the fitting than heretofore was possible without leakage and without undue and destructive stressesv being set up in the washer.

, A further object of the invention is to provide an improved, simple and economical method of manufacturing universal tubing fittings of the class described.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent by reference to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which: A

Fig. 1 is an exploded longitudinal sectional view of a universal flexible connection for tubing embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the flexible connection for tubing disclosed in Fig. 1

partially asembled and positioned in dies ready for the final assembly operation.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of a completely assembled flexible connection for tubing embodying the invention.

- Fig. 4 shows a longitudinal sectional view of the flexible connection for tubing disclosed in Figs. L 2 and 3 showing the tubing in an extreme flexed position.

Referring now to the drawing wherein like numerals refer to like and corresponding parts throughout the several views, the illustrative embodiment of the invention disclosed in the drawing is shown in conjunction with a male externally threaded pipe fitting, however, it is to be understood that the invention may be used with and applied to various other types of pipe fittings and couplings as may be desired.

Referring nowparticularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the illustrative embodiment of the invention disclosed therein comprises an externally threaded pipe fitting l0 provided with an axial bore ll therethrough terminating in an axially disposed frusto-spherically bottomed formed in the extended enlarged end of the said fitting III which is so formed as toprovide an axially disposed annular lip ll which later is formed into a spherical extension I20 of the frusto-spherical bottom of the counterbore l2.

A relatively stiff yet resilient annular washer H of rubber, neoprene, Duprene, or the like having its outer peripheral corners rounded as indicated by the numeral ill in Fig. 1 and having an internal diameter preferably slightly less than the external diameter of the flared tubing I6 is telescoped' over the said flared tubing IS. The said washer I4 isof sufllcient length to fill the cavity defined by the counterbore I! when formed into a spherical shape I20 around the flared end ll of the flared tubing i6 as later described. 7

A domed shaped washer l8 having a domed portion I2 and an annular collar 20 is telescoped over the flared tubing 16 and brought into position against and overlapping the rounded peripheral corner Id at one end of the resilient washer H as indicated in Fig. 2. The outer surface of the domed portion l2 of the domed shaped washer IB'is formed to the same spherical dimension as thefrusto-spherical bottom of the counterbore I2of the fitting ill.

When the elements l0, l4 and ll of the flexible connection are assembled in relationship to the flared end I! of the flared tubing l6 as indicated in Fig. 2, the fitting I0 is pressed into a female forming die 2i by the male die 22 wherecounterbore i2 upon the axially disposed annular lips I3 are formed into a frusto-spherical shape I20 making, together with the domed shaped washer W, a spherical housing for the flared end I! of the flared tubing I 6 simultaneously with pressing the said resilient washer it into sealed relationship with respect to the flared tubing IS, the fitting l0, and the dome shaped washer it; thus providing a fluid tight yet resilient universal flexible connection for tubing.

It is preferable that the inner surface of the counterbore l2 and the outer surface of the domed portion is of the dome shaped washer that many changes may be made in the size, shapa'arrangement, and details of the elements of the invention may be changed and that the method steps may be modified without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claim.

I claim; I p

In combination, a cylindrical tube, an outwardly directed annular flange on one endof said tube, a resilient annular packing member embracing the cylindrical portion of said tube l8 be finished smooth or polished and that all burs be removed from the annular edges of the pipe fitting ill and dome I9 of the dome shaped washer i8 before assembly to admitof freedom of universal movement of the flared tubing ill with respect to the fitting l0.

Although but one embodiment of the invention and a single method of producing the same has been disclosed and described in detail, it is obvious 

